Kailua Bay: Guided Kayak & Snorkel Tour with Popoiʻa Island

4.95

(433 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what it feels like to paddle out from Kailua, watching the Koʻolau mountains shift in the background? I didn’t really know what to expect — maybe just a bit of sun and some exercise. But right away, meeting our guide at the little shop (it smells faintly like sunscreen and neoprene in there), I could tell this was more than just a quick kayak trip. He handed me a paddle, grinned, and said something about “turtle luck” — I laughed, but secretly hoped he was right.

The water off Oahu is this wild mix of turquoise and navy, and it’s not as flat as it looks from shore. My arms felt wobbly at first, but paddling together with the group made it easier. We drifted past these rocky bits where seabirds were nesting — our guide pointed out Popoiʻa Island ahead and explained how it’s protected for those birds. There was this salty breeze that kept blowing my hat sideways (should’ve tightened it), and then someone shouted “honu!” Suddenly everyone was looking overboard, trying to spot a green sea turtle below. I caught a glimpse — just a flipper vanishing into the blue. Still counts.

After landing on the island (the sand is rougher than you’d think), we had time to snack and listen to stories about old volcanoes shaping this whole coastline. The snorkeling part surprised me most — cool water rushing into my mask, flashes of fish darting around coral. Lunch tasted better than usual after all that paddling; maybe everything does when you’re tired and salty-skinned? Anyway, we lingered longer than planned because nobody wanted to leave just yet.